• The Defense Department has announced a major restructuring of headquarters staffs. DoD’s assistant deputy chief management officer David Tillotson said this will mean staff reductions. Over 1,500 positions are slated for reduction. He said they will occur over several years through attrition, though involuntary cuts are not happening at this time, Tillotson suggested supervisors work with employees whose positions are to be eliminated to help plot out their future. DoD hopes to save about $1.9 billion through this initiative. (DoD)

• The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee wants to reward federal workers who find waste. It advanced the Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act which would allow an agency inspector general to pay an employee up to $10,000 for finding ways to save money. It now heads to the Senate floor. The legislation was originally introduced a year ago by Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.). (Congress)

• Agencies are just keeping the lights on for more than 5,000 of the 7,000 major IT investments across government. These include at least six systems that are more than 50 years old and three others that are more than 40 years old. The Government Accountability Office finds agency spending to just keep these and other legacy systems running increased by $7.3 billion since 2010. GAO said HHS has seen the biggest increase in legacy systems spending since 2010, by more than $4 billion. (House Oversight and Government Reform Committee)

• A federal union that represents employees at 17 different Veterans Affairs facilities is telling the Senate not to pass the Veterans First Act omnibus. National Federation of Federal Employees President Bill Dougan wrote to members of the Senate, saying the accountability measures in the bill would create a culture of fear among VA employees. NFFE specifically opposes provisions that would create a faster timeline for VA employees to appeal disciplinary actions and another provision that would extend probationary periods for senior executives. (NFFE)

• The Office of Personnel Management has two new online courses for senior executives. The first tells senior managers how they apply emotional intelligence in the workplace. The second has information for senior executives on leading during a transition and even some practice scenarios. Both courses are available on HRUniversity.gov. They’re part of the SES Candidate Development Program. (CHCOC)

• The VA has a fresh problem to add to the pile. Veterans Affairs computer cross-checks misidentified living veterans as having died. The result: VA canceled their benefits. The Wall Street Journal reports, the problem has affected 4,000 veterans over the past few years. It came to light in correspondence between VA and Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla). VA said only a small number of vets are affected, and it resumes benefits once it learns they’re still alive. (Wall Street Journal)

• Another Defense Agency could see structural changes. The Hill reports a group of senators have introduced an amendment to its version of the Defense Authorization Act, which would elevate U.S. Cyber Command to a unified combatant command. As of right now, it’s a subordinate to U.S. Strategic Command. The idea seems to have many supporters, including the command’s head, Adm. Mike Rogers. (The Hill)

• House lawmakers take aim at the IRS’ bottom line. The subcommittee charged with approving funding for agencies that manage the government’s workforce and tax collection, approved a $21.7 billion appropriations bill, which includes a $1.2 billion cut to the IRS. Supporters said they only cut from agencies they think can be more efficient on tighter budgets. (Federal News Radio)

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